Contents

About the course

Successful applicants for the 2019-20 School Direct Programme will work in two schools - a base school and a second school, which will provide a contrasting setting.

Trainees will follow a school-based programme that will enable you to work alongside outstanding practitioners developing the rigour, professional knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to become inspirational, creative and purposeful teachers.

As a trainee you will have full access to Canterbury Christ Church University and all its facilities.

It is a requirement of all QTS courses that trainees get at least 60 days (or equivalent) training through the year, comprising at least 15 days of taught sessions at the University and ongoing professional development activities provided by the school.

Development in school will be supported by a mentor who will help you in your progress towards meeting the standards for QTS.

Professional Studies sessions aim to inform you about aspects of professional practice which are central to your work, whatever your subject or phase, including how do we learn, how do we include all children, how is teaching a professional activity, how can education be organised and how can learning be assessed.

In additional to the professional studies content, all trainees will undertake various Curriculum Studies modules. These involve work in studying key concepts that underpin the various curricula and syllabi for your subject or phase. The sessions allow discussion of different pedagogies and allow reflection on differing school approaches to develop your appreciation of what works and how.

Trainees will be welcomed as full members of the staff team and encouraged to immerse themselves in all aspects of school life including professional development days, monitoring and evaluation activity, extra-curricular activities and community events.

Assessment

QTS Pathway – all students

Throughout the course you will be assessed by your mentors and tutors who will grade you at key points to help you understand how well you are meeting the standards for QTS. At the end of the course you will have a final assessment. This will take the form of a review meeting to formally assess whether you have met the standards for QTS.

School Direct PGCE Pathway

In addition to the above assessment process for the recommendation for QTS students who have opted for the School Direct PGCE Pathway will be required to submit three 4,000 word equivalent assignments, spread across the year, which will be assessed at Masters Level.

Interview process

Each candidate shortlisted for interview will be notified directly through UCAS and by email from our team.

If candidates are notified that they have been successful in securing an interview, they may wish to visit the lead school prior to the interview.

Interviews will be generally be held at the school to which you are applying and be conducted by senior teachers, the Head of Department and the Strategic Lead of the Teaching School Alliance. Some panels will also include a representative of the University.

Candidates will be asked to complete a subject knowledge audit, which will form part of the discussions at interview in assessing your readiness to teach specific areas of the curriculum and to identify any requirements for subject knowledge enhancement prior to the starting the programme.

Candidates should be able to discuss their recent relevant educational experience, which should be based on their work with children or young people.

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate relevant skills through a brief teaching activity. You will also be asked to give a short, prepared presentation and complete short mathematics and literacy tasks.

We also require candidates to bring proof their qualifications to interview, including their degree certificate. This is to ensure that there are no subsequent problems with eligibility to train.

We are happy to respond to questions from candidates prior to interview. The process is designed to give each applicant the best chance to show their potential to be a successful trainee.

How school placements work

Successful applicants will spend the majority of the training year in one school, generally starting on the first day of the school term in September.

Shepway Teaching School Alliance works secondary schools in both Folkestone and Ashford districts, which offer a range of subjects each year according to need and capacity.

In most schools you will have the opportunity to teach across the 11-18 age range.

Trainees will also experience a second placement, which is 4-6 weeks in Term 3. As Kent is a selective authority, we tend to swap those in one setting with the contrasting one for their second placement.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

The fee above is that which applies to the QTS & PGCE route.

Those who train to achieve Qualified Teacher Status are trained at a reduced rate of £5,960.

Requirements

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who ideally have a 2-2 or better degree.

Where the degree result is to be awarded in the year of application, we require a predicted degree classification as part of an academic reference.

We cannot accept degrees without Honours.

All trainees must have a degree which includes at least 50% of its content in the target subject. Applicants who do not will be required to undertake a Subject Knowledge Enhancement programme.

Passes at GCSE Grade C or above in English language, mathematics.

Skills tests in Numeracy and Literacy must be completed.

Personal qualities

We are looking for ambitious trainee teachers who have a passion for education, are positive, enthusiastic, organised, creative, flexible, patient and have a desire to share these skills with young people of all abilities in our schools.

It is an advantage to have experience of to have experience of British mainstream schools.

Knowledge of the curriculum, the challenges a school may face in raising standards and the ability to talk about what makes for great teaching are particularly important. An awareness of current issues and an understanding of the pressures of the job will strengthen any application.

Other requirements

All accepted candidates will be required to provide proof of their educational qualifications in the form of certificates. Transcripts are not accepted. We do not require these to be shown at interview, but any offer made will be conditional on satisfactory proofs being supplied.

All trainees who are accept an offer on our programmes will be required to undergo a new Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service.

We operate a safe recruitment policy, which requires candidates to complete confidential disclosure (seen by the Head of the Teaching School), where there may be issues which would affect any subsequent DBS Check.

About the training provider

Why Train with Shepway Teaching School Alliance?

We look for candidates with the following strengths:

a passion for learning and an interest in/knowledge of education

excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)

the ability to stay calm and deal with stressful situations

a drive to succeed and resilience in the face of difficulty

the ability to be an equal part of a team

experience of managing teams and other adults

a sense of humour and the charisma to inspire and motivate our pupils

reflective practitioners who respond positively to feedback

interests outside of education

We are interested in those potential trainees who are motivated by a desire to see children thrive in their education and a commitment to see things through.

We offer a one-year, full-time, teacher training programme - a distinctive and practical school-centred pathway into the profession of teaching.

You will work alongside experienced teachers, who will act as mentors. You will have the opportunity to work in two good and outstanding schools in the Shepway district or sometimes further afield where this matches your needs as a trainee.

We offer our trainees support in gaining employment in a Shepway school.

If you are subsequently employed within the Shepway Teaching School Alliance, you will have access to a wide range professional development opportunities, including a bespoke programme for NQTs, and many other opportunities to develop your practice. We have a thriving community of practitioners within our alliance schools.

Training with disabilities and other needs

All reasonably practicable steps will be taken to ensure that problems relating to access or equipment do not debar disabled applicants from employment. Candidates who indicate a disability on their application form and are invited to a recruitment and selection day will be contacted in advance to discuss whether any particular access or other requirements are required, such as large print documents or wheelchair access.